Patent EA-000630-B1 (EA)
Title: System and apparatus for treating the ureter and/or pyero-ureter junction
IPC: A61M25/10
Filed: 1996-11-01
Abstract: 1. System for treating the ureter and/or the pyelo-ureter junction, comprising: - widening means for widening a constriction in the ureter and/or the pyelo-ureter junction, said widening means comprising a first inflatable balloon, which is replaceable by an expandable balloon catheter, comprising an inflation lumen and urine drainage lumen, expandable to keep open in its expanded state the widened constriction; - introducing means comprising an introducing catheter having correspondingly mating lumens, and coupling and decoupling means for coupling said lumen together whereby the introducing catheter is decoupleable from the balloon catheter in such a way that the balloon remains substantially inflated. 2. System according to Claim 1, wherein the balloon catheter has a greater expandable diameter at a first extremity thereof, than at a second extremity thereof 3. System according to Claims 1 or 2, wherein the first inflatable balloon has a greater expandable diameter than the second extremity of the second expandable balloon. 4. System according to Claim 3, wherein the expanded diameter of the first balloon is smaller than the expanded diameter of the first extremity than the expanded diameter of the first extremity of the catheter balloon. 5. System according to Claim 4, wherein the first and/or second balloon(s) can resist a pressure of between 4 and 17 atmospheres. 6. System according to Claim 5, wherein the first balloon can resist a higher pressure than the second balloon 7. System according to any of the previous Claims, further comprising guiding means which comprise at least one wire element, for guiding the widening means, balloon catheter and introducing means through urethra, bladder and ureter. 8. System according to Claim 7, wherein the coupling/decoupling means comprise a coupling/uncoupling assembly for an inflation medium introducing element for introducing balloon inflation medium into the balloon catheter, said assembly comprising: - a channel connected to the balloon, wherethrough inflation medium is introducible to the balloon; - plugging means associated with said channel for plugging thereof; - an opening situated in the channel between the balloon and the plugging means through which opening balloon inflation medium is escapable from the balloon; and - displaceable closing means for closing said opening, wherein the balloon is inflatable by introducing expansion medium through the channel via an expansion medium introducing element, whereafter said element is detachable from the balloon catheter in such a way that the balloon remains substantially inflated. 9. System according to Claim 8, wherein the expansion medium introducing element comprises a fluid pipe element having a flared end for coupleably engaging the balloon catheter. 10. System according to Claim 8 or 9, wherein the fluid pipe element further comprises a hollow needle extendable through the plugging means. 11. System according to any of the Claims 8-10, wherein the fluid pipe element comprises a flexible pushing member for pushing the balloon catheter free therefrom. 12. Method for treating the ureter and/or the pyelo-ureter junction, using the system according to any of the Claims 1-11, comprising the steps of: a) stretching and widening of a constriction, during a predetermined period, b) removing the widening means, whereafter the constriction remains in this widened form, followed by, c) keeping open the widened constriction in this widened form by the keeping-open-means, whereafter a desired period of time these means are removed. 13. Method according to Claim 12, wherein at least one of the widening means and keeping-open-means are introduced into a patient by means of guiding means through the urethra, bladder and ureter. 14. Method for decoupling balloon expansion medium introducing means from a balloon catheter using the assembly according to any of the Claims 8-11.